JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman

Wednesday, May 06, 2015

Funding boost to domestic and family violence services

The Palaszczuk Government will provide an extra $1.5 million for services to help women and children suffering as a result of domestic and family violence.

The funding follows a recent surge in domestic and family violence related incidents across the state being reported to specialist support service DVConnect.

DV Connect will receive an extra $750,000 per year for two years, on top of existing funding ($3.17m in 2014/15) for services including counsellors to expand its Womensline telephone support service.

Visiting DV Connect’s headquarters today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said DV Connect provided a vital first port of call for women and children escaping domestic and family violence who needed somewhere safe to stay, information or other support.

“Calls to DV Connect have increased by 40 percent. Behind these statistics are vulnerable women, children and families being subjected to abuse,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“DV Connect does a wonderful job supporting these victims under very trying circumstances, which is why my Government supports them.

“Domestic violence is a scourge on our state and we must all work together to tackle this terrible problem.”

Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman said DV Connect’s team of dedicated counsellors were the voice on the end of the line which brought hope and support to women in dire situations.

“Having confidential and easily accessible support available 24 hours a day can make all the difference to women experiencing domestic and family violence,” Ms Fentiman said.

“Increased awareness of domestic violence issues is playing a part in the rising demand for services, so it is vital that when we encourage people to trust their instinct and speak out, we have the services there to help them.”

Womensline provides free and confidential telephone information, advice and referrals. DV Connect has experienced a 40 per cent increase in demand across the December 2014 and March 2015 quarters, when compared to the corresponding quarters 12 months earlier.

To get help for yourself or someone you know, call DVConnect Womensline on 1800 811 811 or Mensline on 1800 600 636. For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/trustyourinstinct